Current Affairs (CONSOLIDATION) - (Part - II)
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Current
Affairs
(CONSOLIDaTION)
February 2021
(Part – II)
Drishti, 641, First Floor, Dr. Mukherjee Nagar, Delhi-110009
Phone: 87501 87501, WhatsApp: 92058 85200, IVR: 8010-440-440
Email: engweb@groupdrishti.com
Contents Polity and Governance.........................................................................................................1 z UNHRC’s New Resolution Against Sri Lanka............................................................................................................ 1 z New IT Rules 2021................................................................................................................................................... 2 z National Commission for Scheduled Castes............................................................................................................ 4 z Nurturing Neighbourhoods..................................................................................................................................... 5 z Challenge: Smart Cities Mission.............................................................................................................................. 5 z National Hydrogen Energy Mission......................................................................................................................... 6 z Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme........................................................................................................ 7 z Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease ........................................................................................................................... 8 z Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP......................................................................................... 9 z International Mother Language Day ..................................................................................................................... 10 z OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers............................................................................................ 12 z Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector................................................................................................................ 13 z Digital Intelligence Unit ........................................................................................................................................ 14 z Report on Road Accidents: World Bank................................................................................................................ 15 z Corruption Perception Index 2020 ....................................................................................................................... 17 z Draft Blue Economy Policy .................................................................................................................................... 18 z Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity................................................................................................................. 19 z Conclusive Land Titling.......................................................................................................................................... 20 z IIT Council’s Recommendations............................................................................................................................ 22 z National Urban Digital Mission.............................................................................................................................. 23 z PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme.............................................................................................................. 24 z President’s Rule in Puducherry............................................................................................................................. 25 Economic Scenario.............................................................................................................27 z Blank-Cheque Company........................................................................................................................................ 27 z Saras Aajeevika Mela 2021.................................................................................................................................... 28 z Accredited Investors ............................................................................................................................................. 28 z China: India’s Top Trading Partner in 2020........................................................................................................... 29 z Media Platform Bill: Australia ............................................................................................................................... 30 z Securities Appellate Tribunal................................................................................................................................. 31 z India Energy Outlook 2021: IEA............................................................................................................................. 32 z Certified Jute Seeds............................................................................................................................................... 33 z Increased Foreign Portfolio Investments............................................................................................................... 34 z RBI Directives to HFCs........................................................................................................................................... 36 z Scheme of Fund for Regeneration of Traditional Industries................................................................................. 37 z Anti-Dumping Duty on Steel Imports from China.................................................................................................. 38 z Flexible Inflation Target ........................................................................................................................................ 39 International Relations.......................................................................................................41 z CECPA: India & Mauritius...................................................................................................................................... 41 z Ceasefire Along Line of Control............................................................................................................................. 42
z India-China Hotline................................................................................................................................................ 44 z FATF Retains Pakistan In Grey List......................................................................................................................... 44 z India - Maldives..................................................................................................................................................... 45 z Quad Meeting........................................................................................................................................................ 47 z Transatlantic Alliance............................................................................................................................................ 48 z Boosting Cooperation in South Asia...................................................................................................................... 49 z New York Convention............................................................................................................................................ 50 z World Trade Organisation..................................................................................................................................... 50 z IAEA - Iran Deal over Nuclear Inspections............................................................................................................. 52 z Senkaku Island Dispute.......................................................................................................................................... 53 Science and Technology......................................................................................................55 z Epilepsy................................................................................................................................................................. 55 z Genetically Modified Organisms as Imported Food Crops.................................................................................... 55 z Airline Mapping of Ocean Floor............................................................................................................................. 56 z National Technology Awards 2020 ....................................................................................................................... 57 z NASA’ s Mars 2020 Mission................................................................................................................................... 58 z Bhuvan Portal........................................................................................................................................................ 60 z Sandes: Government Instant Messaging System.................................................................................................. 61 z Bhuvan Portal........................................................................................................................................................ 61 z Beema Bamboo Crash Barrier .............................................................................................................................. 63 z Silver Antimony Telluride: A Material to Tap Waste Heat..................................................................................... 63 Environment and Ecology...................................................................................................65 z NGT Suggests National River Rejuvenation Mechanism....................................................................................... 65 z Migratory Birds and Chilika Lake .......................................................................................................................... 66 z Sitanadi-Udanti Tiger Reserve: Chhattisgarh......................................................................................................... 67 z Report on Winter Pollution: CSE........................................................................................................................... 68 z Olive Ridley Turtles................................................................................................................................................ 69 z Making Peace with Nature: UNEP Report............................................................................................................. 70 z Karlapat Wildlife Sanctuary, Odisha...................................................................................................................... 71 z Gangetic River Dolphin.......................................................................................................................................... 72 z Mandarin Duck...................................................................................................................................................... 73 z Pollution from Coal Burning: IEACCC .................................................................................................................... 74 z Coelacanth............................................................................................................................................................. 75 z World’s Smallest Reptile........................................................................................................................................ 76 z Greenpeace Analysis on Economic Cost of Air Pollution....................................................................................... 77 z Hyderabad: Tree City of the World....................................................................................................................... 78 z Black-Necked Crane............................................................................................................................................... 79 z State of Environment Report 2021: CSE................................................................................................................ 80 History...............................................................................................................................81 z Maharaja Suheldev................................................................................................................................................ 81 z Pagri Sambhal Movement..................................................................................................................................... 81 z Mannathu Padmanabhan...................................................................................................................................... 83 Art & Culture......................................................................................................................84 z Vijayanagar King Krishnadevaraya......................................................................................................................... 84
z Ancient Buddhist Monastery Found in Jharkhand................................................................................................ 84 z Khwaja Monuddin Chishti..................................................................................................................................... 85 z Guru Ravidas Jayanti............................................................................................................................................. 86 Geography.........................................................................................................................87 z Declining Rainfall in Cherrapunji........................................................................................................................... 87 z Nathu La, Sikkim.................................................................................................................................................... 88 Social Issues.......................................................................................................................89 z Same Sex Marriage................................................................................................................................................ 89 z Autism Spectrum Disorder.................................................................................................................................... 90 Security..............................................................................................................................91 z Roads on Arunachal Border................................................................................................................................... 91 z NAVDEX 21 and IDEX 21: UAE............................................................................................................................... 92 z Arjun MBT MK-1A.................................................................................................................................................. 93 z Helina and Dhruvastra: Anti-tank Guided Missile................................................................................................. 93
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 1
Polity and Governance
Highlights
z UNHRC’s New Resolution Against Sri Lanka z Liberalisation of the Geo-Spatial Sector
z New IT Rules 2021 z Digital Intelligence Unit
z National Commission for Scheduled Castes z Report on Road Accidents: World Bank
z Nurturing Neighbourhoods z Corruption Perception Index 2020
z Challenge: Smart Cities Mission z Draft Blue Economy Policy
z National Hydrogen Energy Mission z Right of Reputation vs Right to Dignity
z Intensified Mission Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme z Conclusive Land Titling
z Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease z IIT Council’s Recommendations
z Status of WASH in Healthcare Facilities in India: CDDEP z National Urban Digital Mission
z International Mother Language Day z PM Atmanirbhar Swasth Bharat Scheme
z OTT Service Providers vs Telecom Service Providers z President’s Rule in Puducherry
Key Points
UNHRC’s New ¾ The New Draft Resolution/ The Zero Draft:
Resolution Against Sri Lanka It incorporates some of the elements of the UNHRC
report, including those on strengthening the
Why in News HRC’s capacity on preserving evidence, devising
strategies for future accountability processes,
Recently, Sri Lanka has made an appeal to the member
and supporting judicial proceedings in member
states of the United Nations Human Rights Council states with jurisdiction.
(UNHRC) to reject the impending resolution on the island
z As per the UNHRC report, the government of Sri
nation’s human rights accountability and reconciliation.
Lanka had created parallel military task forces
¾ Sri Lanka is facing a new resolution calling on it to and commissions that encroach on civilian
hold human rights abusers to account and deliver functions, and reversed important institutional
justice to victims of its 26-year civil war (1983-2009). checks and balances, threatening democratic
The war was mainly a clash between the Sinhalese- gains, the independence of the judiciary and
dominated Sri Lankan government and the other key institutions.
Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE) insurgent It also talks about encouraging the Sri Lankan
group, the latter of which had hoped to establish government to implement the requirements of the
a separate state for the Tamil minority. previous 30/1 resolution (from which it pulled out).
¾ Sri Lankan forces z Resolution 30/1:
and Tamil rebels It wanted Colombo to establish a credible
were accused of judicial process, with the participation of
atrocities during Commonwealth and other foreign judges,
the war, which killed defence lawyers and authorised prosecutors
at least 1,00,000 and investigators, to go into the alleged
people. rights abuses.
Note:
2 CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
Recently, Sri Lanka has said that Resolution
30/1 was against the country. The Resolution
carried a host of commitments that were not
deliverable and were not in conformity with
the Constitution of Sri Lanka.
It asks the High Commissioner’s office to
monitor progress on national reconciliation
and accountability mechanisms, and come up
with updates next March, and a full report in
September 2022.
¾ UNHRC’s Stand:
The present government in Sri Lanka was
“proactively” obstructing investigations into past
crimes to prevent accountability, and that this had
a “devastating effect” on families seeking truth,
justice and reparations.
Key Points
United Nations (UN) member states “should ¾ Background:
pay attention to the early warning signs of more 2018:
violations to come, and called for “international z The Supreme Court (SC) had observed that
action” including targeted sanctions such as asset the Government of India may frame necessary
freezes and travel bans against “credibly alleged” guidelines to eliminate child pornography, rape
perpetrators of grave human rights violations and and gangrape imageries, videos and sites in
abuses. content hosting platforms and other applications.
States should also pursue investigations and 2020:
prosecution in their national courts under accepted z An Ad-hoc committee of the Rajya Sabha
principles of extraterritorial or universal jurisdiction laid its report after studying the alarming
of international crimes committed by all parties issue of pornography on social media and its
in Sri Lanka. effect on children and society as a whole and
¾ India’s Stand on Previous Resolutions Against Sri recommended for enabling identification of the
Lanka: first originator of such contents.
India voted against Sri Lanka in 2012. z The government brought video streaming over-
India abstained in 2014. the-top (OTT) platforms under the ambit of
the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting.
New IT Rules 2021 ¾ New Guidelines for Social Media/ Intermediaries:
Categories of Social Media Intermediaries:
Why in News z Based on the number of users, on the social
media platform intermediaries have been
Recently, the government has notified Information
divided in two groups:
Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media
Social media intermediaries.
Ethics Code) Rules 2021.
Significant social media intermediaries.
¾ These new rules broadly deal with social media and
over-the-top (OTT) platforms. Due Diligence to be Followed by Intermediaries:
¾ These rules have been framed in exercise of powers z In case, due diligence is not followed by the
under section 87 (2) of the Information Technology intermediary, safe harbour provisions will not
(IT) Act, 2000 and in supersession of the earlier apply to them.
Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines) z The safe harbour provisions have been defined
Rules 2011. under Section 79 of the IT Act, and protect social
Note:
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 3
media intermediaries by giving them immunity material punishable with imprisonment
from legal prosecution for any content posted for a term of not less than five years.
on their platforms. Removal of Unlawful Information:
Grievance Redressal Mechanism is Mandatory: z An intermediary upon receiving actual knowledge
z Intermediaries shall appoint a Grievance Officer in the form of an order by a court or being
to deal with complaints and share the name notified by the Appropriate Govt. or its agencies
and contact details of such officers. through authorized officer should not host or
z Grievance Officer shall acknowledge the publish any information which is prohibited
complaint within twenty four hours and resolve under any law in relation to the interest of the
it within fifteen days from its receipt. sovereignty and integrity of India, public order,
Ensuring Online Safety and Dignity of Users: friendly relations with foreign countries etc.
¾ Rules for News Publishers and OTT Platforms and
z Intermediaries shall remove or disable access
within 24 hours of receipt of complaints of Digital Media:
contents that exposes the private areas of For OTT:
individuals, show such individuals in full or z Self-Classification of Content:
partial nudity or in sexual act or is in the nature The OTT platforms, called as the publishers
of impersonation including morphed images of online curated content in the rules, would
etc. self-classify the content into five age based
z Such a complaint can be filed either by the categories- U (Universal), U/A 7+, U/A 13+,
individual or by any other person on his/her U/A 16+, and A (Adult).
behalf. z Parental Lock:
Additional Due Diligence for the Significant Social Platforms would be required to implement
Media Intermediaries: parental locks for content classified as U/A
z Appointments: Need to appoint Chief Compliance 13+ or higher, and reliable age verification
Officer, a Nodal Contact Person and a Resident mechanisms for content classified as “A”.
Grievance Officer, all of whom should be z Display Rating:
resident in India. Shall prominently display the classification
z Compliance Report: Need to publish a monthly rating specific to each content or programme
compliance report mentioning the details together with a content descriptor informing
of complaints received and action taken on the user about the nature of the content, and
the complaints as well as details of contents advising on viewer description (if applicable)
removed proactively. at the beginning of every programme enabling
z Enabling Identity of the Originator: the user to make an informed decision, prior
Significant social media intermediaries
to watching the programme.
providing services primarily in the nature of For Publishers of News on Digital Media:
messaging shall enable identification of the z They would be required to observe Norms
first originator of the information. of Journalistic Conduct of the Press Council
Required only for the purposes of prevention, of India and the Programme Code under the
detection, investigation, prosecution or Cable Television Networks Regulation Act 1995
punishment of an offence related to thereby providing a level playing field between
sovereignty and integrity of India, the security the offline (Print, TV) and digital media.
of the State, friendly relations with foreign Grievance Redressal Mechanism:
States, or public order, z A three-level grievance redressal mechanism has
1. Or of incitement to an offence relating to been established under the rules with different
the above or in relation with rape, sexually levels of self-regulation.
explicit material or child sexual abuse Level-I: Self-regulation by the publishers;
Note:
4 CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
Level-II: Self-regulation by the self-regulating z It provides for a National Commission for the
bodies of the publishers; Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes with
Level-III: Oversight mechanism. duties to investigate and monitor all matters
Self-regulation by the Publisher: relating to safeguards provided for them, to
inquire into specific complaints and to participate
z Publisher shall appoint a Grievance Redressal
and advise on the planning process of their
Officer based in India who shall be responsible socio-economic development etc.
for the redressal of grievances received by it.
¾ History and Origin:
z The officer shall take decision on every grievance
Special Officer:
received by it within 15 days.
z Initially, the constitution provided for the
Self-Regulatory Body:
appointment of a Special Officer under Article
z There may be one or more self-regulatory 338.
bodies of publishers. z The special officer was designated as the
z Such a body shall be headed by a retired judge Commissioner for Scheduled Castes and
of the SC, a High Court or independent eminent Scheduled Tribes.
person and have not more than six members. 65 Amendment, 1990:
th
z Such a body will have to register with the Ministry z It replaced the one-member system with a multi-
of Information and Broadcasting. member National Commission for Scheduled
z This body will oversee the adherence by the Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST).
publisher to the Code of Ethics and address z The Constitution (65th Amendment) Act 1990,
grievances that have not been resolved by the amended Article 338 of the Constitution.
publisher within 15 days. 89 Amendment, 2003:
th
Oversight Mechanism: z By this amendment, the erstwhile National
z Ministry of Information and Broadcasting shall Commission for SC and ST was replaced by
formulate an oversight mechanism. two separate Commissions from the year 2004
z It shall publish a charter for self-regulating which were: National Commission for Scheduled
bodies, including Codes of Practices. It shall Castes (NCSC) and National Commission for
establish an Inter-Departmental Committee Scheduled Tribes (NCST)- under Article 338-A.
for hearing grievances. ¾ Structure:
It consists of:
National Commission z Chairperson.
z Vice-chairperson.
for Scheduled Castes z Three other members.
They are appointed by the President by warrant
Why in News under his hand and seal.
Recently, Vijay Sampla has been appointed as the ¾ Functions:
chairman of the National Commission for Scheduled Monitoring and investigating all issues concerning
Castes (NCSC). the safeguards provided for the SCs under the
constitution.
Key Points Enquiring into complaints relating to the deprivation
¾ About: of the rights and safeguards of the SCs.
NCSC is a constitutional body that works to Taking part in and advising the central or state
safeguard the interests of the scheduled castes governments with respect to the planning of
(SC) in India. socio-economic development of the SCs.
Article 338 of the constitution of India deals with Regular reporting to the President of the country
this commission: on the implementation of these safeguards.
Note:
w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 5
Recommending steps to be taken to further the
socio-economic development and other welfare Nurturing Neighbourhoods
activities of the SCs.
Challenge: Smart Cities Mission
Any other function with respect to the welfare,
protection, development and advancement of
the SC community. Why in News
The Commission is also required to discharge The Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs has
similar functions with regard to the Anglo-Indian announced the names of the 25 cities selected for the
Community as it does with respect to the SCs. Nurturing Neighbourhoods Challenge under the Smart
Till 2018, the commission was also required to Cities Mission.
discharge similar functions with regard to the
other backward classes (OBCs). It was relieved Key Points
from this responsibility by the 102nd Amendment ¾ About the Challenge:
Act of 2018 Launch: November 2020.
Other Constitutional Provisions Features:
For Upliftment of the Schedule Caste z It is a 3-year initiative that aims to work with
¾ Article 15(4) refers to the special provisions for Indian cities and their partners to pilot and
their advancement. scale ways to improve public space, mobility,
¾ Article 16(4A) speaks of “reservation in matters neighborhood planning, access to early childhood
of promotion to any class or classes of posts in services and amenities, and data management
the services under the State in favour of SCs/ across city agencies.
STs, which are not adequately represented in the z It aims to propagate an early childhood centric
services under the State’. approach among Indian cities.
¾ Article 17 abolishes Untouchability. Partner Organisations:
¾ Article 46 requires the State ‘to promote with special z Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Bernard
care the educational and economic interests of the van Leer Foundation (BvLF) and World Resources
weaker sections of the people, and, in particular, Institute (WRI) India.
of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes, Support to Selected Cities:
and to protect them from social injustice and all z Selected cities based on their proposal, readiness,
forms of exploitation. and commitment - will receive technical support
¾ Article 335 provides that the claims of the members and capacity-building to develop, pilot and
of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes scale solutions that enhance the quality of life
shall be taken into consideration, consistently with of young children.
the maintenance of efficiency of administration, ¾ Significance:
in the making of appointments to services and Sensitivity Towards Children: Urban design and
posts in connection with the affairs of the Union city planning play a crucial role in shaping the early
or of a State. years (0- 5 years) of a child’s life – the period most
¾ Article 330 and Article 332 of the Constitution vital for a child’s long-term health and development.
respectively provide for reservation of seats in favour In Line with the ITCN Framework of the Smart
of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes Cities Mission: ITCN refers to the Infant, Toddler,
in the House of the People and in the legislative Caregiver-Friendly Neighbourhoods framework.
assemblies of the States. It has the following five objectives pertaining
¾ Under Part IX relating to the Panchayats and Part to neighbourhoods - Safe, Playful, Accessible,
IXA of the Constitution relating to the Municipalities, Inclusive and Green.
reservation for SC and ST in local bodies has been Promotes Inclusive Development: It promotes
envisaged and provided. inclusive development as it aims to enhance
Note:
6 CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 www.d rish t i I A S. c o m
opportunities in urban areas for all vulnerable Focus on generation of hydrogen from green
citizens, especially young children. power resources.
To link India’s growing renewable capacity with
Smart City Mission
the hydrogen economy.
¾ About: It is an innovative initiative under the Ministry
z India’s ambitious goal of 175 GW by 2022
of Housing and Urban Affairs, to drive economic
got an impetus in the 2021-22 budget which
growth and improve the quality of life of people by
allocated Rs. 1500 crore for renewable energy
enabling local development and harnessing technology
development and NHM.
as a means to create smart outcomes for citizens.
z The usage of hydrogen will not only help
¾ Objective: To promote cities that provide core
India in achieving its emission goals under the
infrastructure and give a decent quality of life to Paris Agreement, but will also reduce import
its citizens, a clean and sustainable environment dependency on fossil fuels.
and application of Smart Solutions.
¾ Hydrogen:
¾ Focus: On sustainable and inclusive development
Hydrogen is the lightest and first element on the
and to look at compact areas, create a replicable
periodic table. Since the weight of hydrogen is
model which will act like a lighthouse to other
less than air, it rises in the atmosphere and is
aspiring cities.
therefore rarely found in its pure form, H2.
¾ Strategy:
At standard temperature and pressure, hydrogen
Pan-city initiative in which at least one Smart
is a nontoxic, nonmetallic, odorless, tasteless,
Solution is applied city-wide. colorless, and highly combustible diatomic gas.
Develop areas step-by-step with the help of
Hydrogen fuel is a zero-emission fuel burned with
following three models: oxygen. It can be used in fuel cells or internal
z Retrofitting. combustion engines. It is also used as a fuel for
z Redevelopment. spacecraft propulsion.
z Greenfield. Type of Hydrogen:
¾ Coverage and Duration: The Mission covered 100 z Grey Hydrogen:
cities for the duration of five years starting from the Constitutes India’s bulk Production.
financial year (FY) 2015-16 to 2019-20. Extracted from hydrocarbons ( fossil fuels ,
¾ Financing: It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme. natural gas ).
By product: CO2
National z Blue Hydrogen:
Sourced from fossil fuels.
Hydrogen Energy Mission By product: CO, CO2
By products are Captured and Stored, so
Why in News better than gey hydrogen.
The Union Budget for 2021-22 has announced a z Green Hydrogen:
National Hydrogen Energy Mission (NHM) that will Generated from renewable energy (like
draw up a road map for using hydrogen as an energy Solar, Wind).
source. The initiative has the potential of transforming
Electricity splits water into hydrogen and
transportation.
oxygen.
¾ NHM initiative will capitalise on one of the most
By Products : Water , Water Vapor
abundant elements on earth (Hydrogen) for a cleaner
¾ Asia-Pacific Stance:
alternative fuel option.
In Asia-Pacific sub-continent, Japan and South
Key Points Korea are on the front foot in terms of hydrogen
¾ About the National Hydrogen Energy Mission: policy making.
Note:w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 7
In 2017, Japan formulated the Basic Hydrogen
Strategy which sets out the country’s action Intensified Mission
plan till 2030, including the establishment of an Indradhanush 3.0 Scheme
international supply chain.
South Korea is operating hydrogen projects and Why in News
Hydrogen Fuel Cell production units under the Recently, the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)
auspices of its Hydrogen Economy Development 3.0 scheme has been rolled out to cover children and
and Safe Management of Hydrogen Act, 2020. pregnant women who missed routine immunisation during
z South Korea has also passed the Economic the Covid-19 pandemic.
Promotion and Safety Control of Hydrogen Act,
which deals with three key areas - hydrogen Key Points
vehicles, charging stations and fuel cells. This ¾ About the Intensified Mission Indradhanush (IMI)
law is intended to bring transparency to the 3.0 Scheme:
nation’s hydrogen pricing system. Objective:
¾ Indian Context: z To reach the unreached population with all the
India has a huge edge in green hydrogen production available vaccines under Universal Immunisation
owing to its favorable geographic conditions and Programme (UIP) and thereby accelerate the
presence of abundant natural elements. full immunization and complete immunization
coverage of children and pregnant women.
The government has given impetus in scaling up the
Coverage:
gas pipeline infrastructure across the length and
breadth of the country, and has introduced reforms z It will have two rounds this year which will be
for the power grid, including the introduction conducted in 250 pre-identified districts/urban
of smart grids. Such steps are being taken to areas across 29 States/UTs.
effectively integrate renewable energy in the The districts have been classified to reflect
present energy mix. 313 low risk, 152 medium risk and 250 high
Capacity addition to renewable power generation,
risk districts.
storage and transmission, producing green hydrogen z Beneficiaries from migration areas and remote
in India can become cost effective which will not areas would be targeted as they may have
only guarantee energy security, but also ensure missed their vaccine doses during the pandemic.
self-sufficiency gradually. Significance: It will foster India’s march towards
¾ Policy Challenges: the Sustainable Development Goals.
One of the biggest challenges faced by the industry
¾ Universal Immunization Programme:
for using hydrogen commercially is the economic Launch:
sustainability of extracting green or blue hydrogen. z The Immunization Programme in India was
z The technology used in production and use introduced in 1978 as ‘Expanded Programme
of hydrogen like Carbon Capture and Storage of Immunization (EPI) by the Ministry of Health
(CCS) and hydrogen fuel cell technology are at and Family Welfare.
nascent stage and are expensive which in turn z In 1985, the Programme was modified as
increases the cost of production of hydrogen. ‘Universal Immunization Programme (UIP)’.
Maintenance costs for fuel cells post-completion Objectives of the Programme:
of a plant can be costly. z Rapidly increasing immunization coverage,
The commercial usage of hydrogen as a fuel and z Improving the quality of services,
in industries requires mammoth investment in z Establishing a reliable cold chain system to the
R&D of such technology and infrastructure for health facility level,
production, storage, transportation and demand z Introducing a district-wise system for monitoring
creation for hydrogen. of performance, and
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Achieving self-sufficiency in vaccine production.
z z It was a nationwide immunisation drive to
Analysis:
mark the 25 years of Pulse polio programme
z UIP prevents mortality and morbidity in children
(2019-20).
and pregnant women against 12 vaccine- Coverage:
preventable diseases. But in the past, it was z It had targets of full immunization coverage in
seen that the increase in immunization coverage 272 districts spread over 27 States.
had slowed down and it increased at the rate z It aimed to achieve at least 90% pan-India
of 1% per year between 2009 and 2013. immunisation coverage by 2022.
z To accelerate the coverage, Mission Indradhanush
was envisaged and implemented since 2015 to
Non-Alcoholic
rapidly increase the full immunization coverage
to 90%. Fatty Liver Disease
¾ Mission Indradhanush:
Objective: Why in News
z To fully immunize more than 89 lakh children who Recently, the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare
are either unvaccinated or partially vaccinated has launched the operational guidelines for integration
under UIP. of NAFLD (Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease) with
z Targets children under 2 years of age and NPCDCS (National Programme for Prevention & Control
pregnant women for immunization. of Cancer, Diabetes, Cardiovascular Diseases and Stroke).
Diseases Covered: ¾ The NPCDCS is being implemented under the National
z Provides vaccination against 12 Vaccine-
Health Mission (NHM). It was launched in 2010 to
Preventable Diseases (VPD) i.e. diphtheria, prevent and control Non-Communicable Diseases
Whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, (NCDs).
hepatitis B, meningitis and pneumonia,
Key Points
Haemophilus influenzae type B infections,
Japanese encephalitis (JE), rotavirus vaccine, ¾ About NAFLD:
pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV) and It is the abnormal accumulation of fat in the liver
measles-rubella (MR). in the absence of secondary causes of fatty liver,
z However, Vaccination against Japanese
such as harmful alcohol use, viral hepatitis.
Encephalitis and Haemophilus influenzae z Fatty liver occurs when too much fat builds up
type B is being provided in selected districts in liver cells.
of the country. It is a serious health concern as it encompasses
¾ Intensified Mission Indradhanush 1.0: a spectrum of liver abnormalities, from a simple
Launch:
non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL, simple fatty liver
disease) to more advanced ones like non-alcoholic
z It was launched in October 2017.
steatohepatitis (NASH), cirrhosis and even liver
Coverage:
cancer.
z Under IMI, greater focus was given on urban
z Steatohepatitis is characterized by inflammation
areas which were one of the gaps of Mission of the liver with concurrent fat accumulation
Indradhanush. in the liver. Mere deposition of fat in the liver
z It focused to improve immunisation coverage is termed steatosis.
in select districts and cities to ensure full z Cirrhosis is a complication of liver disease
immunisation to more than 90% by December that involves loss of liver cells and irreversible
2018 instead of 2020. scarring of the liver.
¾ Intensified Mission Indradhanush 2.0: NAFLD acts as an independent predictor of
Launch: future risk of cardiovascular diseases, type 2
Note:w w w. d r i s h ti IA S.c om CURRENT AFFAIRS FEBRUARY 2021 9
diabetes and other metabolic syndromes like WASH
hypertension, abdominal obesity, dyslipidaemia,
¾ WASH is an acronym that stands for the interrelated
glucose intolerance.
areas of Water, Sanitation and Hygiene.
¾ Risk From NAFLD:
¾ The World Health Organisation (WHO) WASH
High Fatality Rate: Strategy has been developed in response to Member
z Over the last two decades, the global burden of State Resolution (WHA 64.4) and the 2030 Agenda
NASH has more than doubled. NASH caused 40 for Sustainable Development (SDG 3: Good Health
lakh prevalent cases of compensated cirrhosis in and Well Being, SDG 6: Clean Water And Sanitation).
1990, which increased to 94 lakh cases in 2017. ¾ It is a component of WHO’s 13th General Programme
Risks Obese and Diabetic Individuals: of Work 2019–2023 which aims to contribute to
z Epidemiological studies suggest that prevalence
the health of three billion through multisectoral
of NAFLD is around 9% to 32% of the general actions like better emergency preparedness and
response; and one billion with Universal Health
population in India with a higher prevalence
Coverage (UHC).
in those with overweight or obesity and those
with diabetes or prediabetes. ¾ It also takes on board the need for progressive
realization of the human rights to safe drinking-
Incurable:
water and sanitation, adopted by the UN General
z Once the disease develops, there is no specific Assembly in July 2010.
cure available, and health promotion and
prevention aspects targeting weight reduction, Key Points
healthy lifestyle, etc. can prevent the mortality ¾ Need for Study:
and morbidity due to NAFLD.
Inadequate Healthcare And Sanitation Facilities:
¾ Steps Taken by the Government: A 2019 joint global baseline report by WHO and
Aligning NPCDCS programme strategies to prevent UNICEF had pointed out that globally, one in four
and control NAFLD by encouraging behavior healthcare facilities lacked basic water servicing
changes, early diagnosis and capacity building at and one in five had no sanitation service and 42%
various levels of healthcare. had no hygiene facilities at point of care.
Promoting screening of cancer, diabetes and Economic Importance of Sanitation: A 2012 WHO
hypertension under Ayushman Bharat scheme. report had calculated that for every dollar invested
Along with the focus of ‘Eat Right India’ and
in sanitation, there was USD 5.50 to be gained in
‘Fit India Movement’, the entire vision of the lower health costs, more productivity and fewer
premature deaths.
government is to move from Diagnostic Cure to
Fatalities due to Improper Implementation of
Preventive Health.
the WAH Strategy:
z A WHO document on WASH in healthcare
Status of WASH in Healthcare facilities points out that 8,27,000 people in
Facilities in India: CDDEP low- and middle-income countries die as a
result of inadequate water, sanitation and
hygiene each year.
Why in News z Also, death of 2,97,000 children under five years
A recent research from Center for Disease Dynamics, can be prevented each year if better WASH
Economics and Policy (CDDEP), USA, has estimated the could be provided.
cost of ensuring WASH and taking related steps for ¾ Objectives of the Study:
infection prevention and control for one year in healthcare To determine the cost-effectiveness of WASH
facilities across India. interventions to reduce healthcare-associated
¾ CDDEP aims to use research to support better decision- infections among mother and neonates across
making in health policy. the Indian healthcare system.
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¾ Findings:
Cost Estimates: Improving WASH across the public International
healthcare facilities in India and maintaining this Mother Language Day
for a year would cost Rs. 2567 crores approximately
in capital costs and Rs. 2095 crores in recurrent Why in News
expenses.
Every year, the United Nations Educational, Scientific
z Costly Interventions: Providing clean water,
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) celebrates 21st
linen reprocessing and sanitation.
February as International Mother Language Day to
z Least Expensive Interventions: Hand hygiene, promote mother tongue-based multilingual education.
medical device reprocessing and environmental ¾ The theme of the 2021 celebrations, “Fostering
surface cleaning. multilingualism for inclusion in education and society,”
Healthcare Associated Infections: recognizes that languages and multilingualism can
z Inadequacies in proving WASH and also lack advance inclusion, and the Sustainable Development
of infection prevention and control can lead Goals focus on leaving no one behind.
to healthcare associated infections. ¾ The world has over 7,000 languages whereas India
z Causative Agents: The pathogens like alone has about 22 officially recognized languages,
Acinetobacter baumannii, Enterococcus 1635 mother tongues, and 234 identifiable mother
faecalis, Escherichia coli, Salmonella typhi, tongues.
Streptococcus pneumoniae have been found
Key Points
to be causative agents of healthcare associated
infections because of their ability to develop ¾ About the International Mother Language Day:
resistance to antibiotics. UNESCO declared 21st February as International
Mother Language Day in 1999 and World has been
z Common Healthcare Associated Infections:
celebrating the same since 2000. The day also
Central-line-associated bloodstream infections,
commemorates a long struggle by Bangladesh
Catheter-associated urinary tract infections,
to protect its mother language Bangla.
Surgical site infections and Ventilator-associated
The resolution to mark 21st February as the
pneumonia.
International Mother Language Day was suggested
¾ Importance of the Study: by Rafiqul Islam, a Bangladeshi living in Canada.
Suggests Suitable Strategies: Findings show He proposed the said date to commemorate the
that addressing gaps in WASH across the Indian 1952 killings in Dhaka during the Bangla Language
healthcare system is not only within the realm of Movement.
possibility in terms of affordability – when compared The initiative is aimed at preserving and promoting
to other national health campaigns – but can also mother languages. The aim is to protect the diverse
be combined with other national efforts to address culture and intellectual heritage of different regions
health priorities such as antimicrobial resistance. of the world.
z It also highlights the need for a concerted effort ¾ Related Data:
from local bodies, State and Central governments According to the United Nations (UN), every two
to sustainably address quality and inequality weeks, a language disappears and the world loses
issues in WASH provision. an entire cultural and intellectual heritage.
Improve Healthcare Policy Framing: The intersection z Due to globalization, the rush for learning
between WASH, infection prevention and control foreign languages for better job opportunities
and antimicrobial resistance is unique in that it offers is a major reason behind the disappearance of
policy makers an opportunity to address multiple mother languages.
overlapping problems through interventions on At least 43% of the estimated 6000 languages
WASH in healthcare facilities. spoken in the world are endangered.
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Only a few hundred languages have been genuinely
The University Grants Commission (UGC) also
given a place in education systems and public promotes regional languages in higher education
domain. Also, 40% of the global population does courses in the country and supports nine Central
not have access to education in a language they Universities under the scheme “Establishment
speak or understand. of Centre for Endangered Languages in Central
Less than a hundred languages are used in the Universities”.
digital world. Other Initiatives by the Government of India include
¾ Global Efforts for Protection of Languages: the Bharatavani project and the proposed setting
The UN has designated the period between 2022 up of a Bharatiya Bhasha Vishwavidyalaya (BBV).
and 2032 as the International Decade of Indigenous z Further, the Vice President has highlighted
Languages. other areas for the use of local languages, i.e.
z Earlier, the United Nations General Assembly in administration, court proceedings, higher
had proclaimed 2019 as the International Year and technical education, etc.
of Indigenous Languages (IYIL). Recently, an initiative Namath Basai by Kerala State
The Yuelu Proclamation, made by UNESCO at Government has proved to be very beneficial in
Changsha (China) in 2018, plays a central role in educating children from tribal areas by adopting
guiding the efforts of countries and regions around vernacular languages as medium of instruction.
the world to protect linguistic resources and diversity. Google’s Project Navlekha uses technology to
¾ India’s Initiatives: protect mother language. The project is aimed
The recently announced National Education
at increasing the online content in Indian local
Policy 2020 has given maximum attention to the languages.
development of mother tongues.
Related Constitutional and Legal Provisions
z The policy recommends that as far as possible,
¾ Article 29 of the Constitution (Protection of interests
the medium of instruction shall be, at least till of minorities) gives all citizens right to conserve
class 5, (preferably up to grade 8 and beyond)
their language and prohibits discrimination on the
mother tongue / vernacular / regional language.
basis of language.
z Instructions in mother tongue empowers
¾ Article 120 (Language to be used in Parliament)
students with the subject and language of
provides for use of Hindi or English for transactions
their choice. It will help in building a truly
of Parliament but gives the right to members of
multilingual society in India, improve attendance
Parliament to express themselves in their mother
and learning outcomes, and the ability to learn
tongue.
new languages.
¾ Part XVII of the Indian Constitution deals with the
The Commission for Scientific and Technical
official languages in Articles 343 to 351.
Terminology (CSTT) is providing publication grants
Article 350A (Facilities for instruction in mother-
towards the publications of University Level Books
in regional languages. tongue at primary stage) provides that it shall be
the endeavour of every State and of every local
z It was established in 1961 to evolve technical
terminology in all Indian Languages. authority within the State to provide adequate
facilities for instruction in the mother-tongue
The National Translation Mission (NTM) is being
at the primary stage of education to children
implemented through the Central Institute of
belonging to linguistic minority groups.
Indian Languages (CIIL), Mysore under which
Article 350B (Special Officer for linguistic
the text books of various subjects prescribed in
Universities and Colleges are being translated in minorities): The President should appoint a special
all languages of the Eighth Schedule. officer for linguistic minorities to investigate all
matters relating to the constitutional safeguards
“Protection and Preservation of Endangered
for linguistic minorities and to report to him. The
Languages” scheme for conservation of threatened
President should place all such reports before
languages.
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the Parliament and send to the state government ¾ Issue of Regulation:
concerned. Licensing Regime:
¾ The Eighth Schedule recognises following 22 z Telecom operators are required to comply with
languages: Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Hindi, quality of service norms, audit of accounts,
Kannada, Kashmiri, Konkani, Malayalam, Manipuri, procure spectrum for services, pay goods and
Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Sindhi, Tamil, services tax, licence fees and spectrum usage
Telugu, Urdu, Bodo, Santhali, Maithili and Dogri. charges, facilitate lawful interception and
¾ Right to Education (RTE) Act, 2009 says that the
monitoring system etc. but no such obligations
are imposed on OTT players.
medium of instruction shall, as far as practicable,
be in a child’s mother tongue. UCC Regulation:
z The second important aspect is the Unsolicited
Commercial Communication (UCC) regulation
OTT Service Providers vs that has been in force for TSPs since 2007.
Telecom Service Providers z Recently, the government has also decided
to set up a Digital Intelligence Unit (DIU) as a
nodal agency to deal with complaints of UCC
Why in News
and cases of financial fraud.
The Cellular Operators Association of India (COAI) z Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI)
has urged the government to bring over-the-top (OTT) had come up with a consultation paper to deal
service providers such as WhatsApp under the licensing with UCC on OTT service providers. However, it
regime and defer net neutrality rules on telecom clarified that no regulations would be imposed
operators till the time ‘same service, same rules’ are on OTT calling and messaging apps till the time
applied on the applications. clarity emerges in the international jurisdictions.
¾ COAI was constituted in 1995 as a registered, non- Net Neutrality Rules:
governmental society. COAI’s core membership includes
z The net neutrality principles prohibit service
private Telecom Service Providers (TSPs), namely
providers from discriminating against Internet
Bharti Airtel Ltd., Vodafone India Ltd., Reliance Jio content and services by blocking, throttling or
Infocomm Ltd., operating across the whole country. according preferential higher speeds.
z In 2016, TRAI published Prohibition of
Key Points
Discriminatory Tariffs for data services
¾ Over-The-Top Service Providers: regulations, 2016.
OTT services refer to applications where providers
As per these Regulations, no service provider
deliver audio, video and other media over an can offer or charge discriminatory tariffs for
IP network such as the internet, bypassing the data services on the basis of content.
traditional telecom operators (such as cable z TSPs invest in network infrastructure and acquire
companies). spectrum, without getting a share in the revenue
Examples: Skype, Viber, WhatsApp and Hike are of the OTT service providers.
popular and widely-used OTT communication Some have argued that the investment by
services. TSPs in internet infrastructure or penetration
¾ Impact of OTT Services on TSPs: levels would diminish if they are not permitted
OTT applications actively use TSPs’ infrastructure to practice differential pricing, due to a lack
to provide their services. of incentive.
Many telecom operators are worried by the threat z Another contention of the TSPs is that certain
OTT services provide to their own services. Countless websites or applications require higher
OTT applications are designed as alternative bandwidth than others.
formats of existing ‘classic’ communications For example, websites that stream video
such as SMS. content utilise much more bandwidth than
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